Aly Raisman and over 140 other Larry Nassar survivors deliver a powerful moment at the ESPYs

An indelible moment to be watched again and again.
 By 
Marcus Gilmer
 on 
Aly Raisman and over 140 other Larry Nassar survivors deliver a powerful moment at the ESPYs
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 18: (L-R) Sarah Klein, Tiffany Thomas Lopez, Aly Raisman and recipients of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage speak onstage at The 2018 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater. Credit: Getty Images

There have been few moments as compelling in the last year as seeing the survivors of abuse by Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar come forward to face him as he was brought to justice.

But on Wednesday night, these brave women gave us another powerful image as over 140 of them came together on stage in Los Angeles at ESPN's ESPY awards to accept the network's Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.

Three of the survivors -- Sarah Klein, Tiffany Thomas Lopez, and Aly Raisman -- spoke on behalf of the group when accepting the award during the telecast.


You May Also Like

Klein said while accepting the award, "We are here on this stage to present an image for the world to see, a portrait of survival, a new vision of courage."

And that image was both heartbreaking yet powerful and inspirational. The sheer scale of it all was driven home when it took a long-distance camera angle just to fit all of the women on stage into one shot.

Gold medal gymnast Raisman, who's been the most prominent member of the group to speak publicly about the abuse, said, "To all the survivors out there: don't let anyone rewrite your story. Your truth does matter, you matter, and you are not alone."

The ESPYs can be a slog, meant to be a bit of a self-congratulating love fest that can fill the airwaves on a slow sports night during Major League Baseball's All-Star Break.

But the bravery shown by the dozens of women on stage Wednesday night and their message of support, justice, and hope, created in indelible moment that deserves to be watched again and again and fully taken to heart.

Mashable Image
Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
'The Drama' review: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson deliver cringe comedy in troubling wedding romance
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson in "The Drama."

How to watch 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere': Now streaming
Jeremy Allen White in 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere'




Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!